What dumplings are on the menu?

Pan-fried, steamed and mixed-sauce dumplings with pork, chicken, vegan and pork & prawn fillings.

Are vegan options available?

Yes, including vegan tofu, cabbage and chive dumplings and crispy vegan spring rolls.

Is there a wonton option?

Yes, pork and prawn wonton served in soup or dry with sauce.

What are the Nelson location's opening hours?

Tuesday to Saturday, lunch 11:30am-2:30pm and dinner 5pm-8:30pm.

Is alcohol available?

Yes, tap beer, bottled beer, wine, champagne and BYO.

Are there non-alcoholic drink options?

Yes, soft drinks, tea, and a 0.0% alcohol beer option.

How many dumplings has Jay's Dumpling Cafe served?

Over 1 million dumplings devoured since opening on 8 October 2020.

Jay's Dumpling Cafe, Nelson

Name: Jay's Dumpling Cafe, Nelson
Address: 306 Hardy Street, Nelson 7010, Nelson Central, Nelson, NZ
Telephone: 03-539-1088
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.8

restaurant — Nelson Central · Nelson

About Jay's Dumpling Cafe, Nelson

Jay's Dumpling Cafe has been serving Nelson since 8 October 2020, and has now devoured its way past 1 million dumplings, backed by a 4.8/5.0 Google review rating. The cafe is on-license and offers lunch, dinner, dine-in and takeaway across an extensive dumpling, noodle and wonton menu.

Dumplings are freshly cooked using canola oil, carry a 4.5 star Health Star Rating, and are made without MSG, with genuine vegan options available across the range. Beyond the classic pork, chicken and pork & prawn fillings, the menu extends into mixed-sauce specialty dumplings, noodles, wontons, a wide range of side dishes, and a full drinks list including soft drinks, tea, tap beer, bottled beer, wine and BYO.

The Nelson store sits at 306 Hardy Street, alongside a sister location in Richmond, with the noodle range proudly made using local Nelson ingredients including Pic's Peanut Butter.

Jay's Dumpling Cafe Nelson: 1 Million Dumplings and Counting

Jay's Dumpling Cafe has been dishing up dumplings in Nelson since 8 October 2020, and has now devoured its way past the 1 million dumpling mark. The cafe holds a 4.8 out of 5.0 rating on Google reviews, and offers on-license dining for lunch and dinner, whether guests want to sit in or grab takeaway.

More than just pork and cabbage

The dumpling range runs deep, covering pan-fried and steamed classics like juicy pork with cabbage, chicken with sweet corn and peas, and a vegan tofu, cabbage and chive option, alongside pork and prawn with garlic chive. From there, the menu branches into a dedicated mixed-sauce range: Zhong Dumplings with a secret sweet soy sauce, spicy sauce and peanut; Sour Dumplings served in a spicy and sour soup; and Bourbon Sauce Dumplings finished with sesame and mayo.

Bold and seasonal specialties

For those after something more adventurous, Jay's offers Japanese Takoyaki Sauce Dumplings with bonito, a fiery Spicy Squid & Pork Dumpling Skewer with Asian cumin kebab sauce, and a seasonal, limited-edition Red Wine Sauce Beef Onion Dumpling finished with parmesan cheese. A newer Kung Pow Chicken Dumpling rounds out the pan-fried lineup.

Wontons, noodles and sides

Beyond dumplings, the menu includes pork and prawn wontons served either in a soup with seaweed, coriander and dried shrimp, or dry with a peanut and sweet soy sauce. The noodle section features Dandan Noodles, made using local Nelson ingredients including Pic's Peanut Butter, and a Spicy Cold Noodles dish loaded with corn, carrot, fried peanut and coriander. A generous side dish list covers edamame, prawn twists, crispy vegan spring rolls, kumara chips, tempura squid rings, and Japanese-style takoyaki octopus balls.

Drinks for every occasion

Jay's on-license status means the drinks list extends well beyond soft drinks and tea, into tap beer (Pale Ale, NZ Pilsner or Hazy), bottled Asahi, Corona, cider, a 0.0% alcohol option, and a larger bottle of Tsingtao. Wine drinkers can choose white wine by the glass or bottle, an Otago Pinot Noir, or a small bottle of Italian champagne, and BYO is also welcomed.

Freshly cooked, thoughtfully made

All dumplings are freshly cooked using canola oil, carry a 4.5 star Health Star Rating, and are made without MSG — details the cafe is upfront about on its menu, alongside a clear vegan option running through the dumpling and spring roll range.

Visiting Jay's Dumpling Cafe Nelson

Jay's Dumpling Cafe Nelson is located at 306 Hardy Street, open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch from 11:30am to 2:30pm and dinner from 5pm to 8:30pm. A sister location also operates in Richmond for those on that side of the region.

Signature items

Zhong Dumplings
Dumplings Skewer - Spicy Squid & Pork
Red Wine Sauce Beef Onion Dumplings
Kung Pow Chicken Dumplings
Dandan Noodles
Japanese Takoyaki Sauce Dumplings

Pork & Prawn w Garlic Chive Wonton in Soup — Wonton in soup with seaweed, coriander and tiny dry shrimp.
Pork & Prawn w Spinach Wonton in Soup — Wonton in soup with seaweed, coriander and tiny dry shrimp.
Pork & Prawn w Garlic Chive Wonton with Sauce — Dry wonton with peanut, magic sweet soy sauce and spicy sauce.
Pork & Prawn w Spinach Wonton with Sauce — Dry wonton with peanut, magic sweet soy sauce and spicy sauce.

Alcohol

Tap Beer — Pale Ale, NZ Pilsner or Hazy on tap.
Asahi — Bottled Asahi beer.
Corona — Bottled Corona beer.
Cider — Bottled cider.
0.0% Alcohol — A non-alcoholic beer option.
Tsingtao Large 640ml — Large bottle of Tsingtao beer.
White Wine (Glass/Bottle) — White wine by the glass or bottle.
Pinot Noir - Otago (Bottle) — Otago Pinot Noir by the bottle.
Italy Champagne 200ml — A small bottle of Italian champagne.

Noodles

Dandan Noodles (Little Soup) — Noodles in soup with dandan sauces, mesclun and pork mince on top, made with Pic's Peanut Butter.
Spicy Cold Noodles — Cold noodles with corn, carrot, fried peanut, mesclun, coriander and peanut butter.

Beverage

Coca-Cola (Classic/No Sugar) — Classic or no sugar Coca-Cola.
Fanta / Sprite / L&P — A choice of soft drinks.
Ginger Beer / Lemon & Lime — A choice of soft drinks.
Hot Jasmine Green Tea — Hot jasmine green tea.
Iced Black Tea — Iced black tea.

Side Dishes

Edamame (in Pods) — Steamed edamame served in the pod.
Prawn Twist — Crispy prawn twist, 3 pieces.
Crispy Vegan Spring Rolls — Crispy vegan spring rolls, 5 pieces.
Kumara Chips — Fried kumara chips.
Squid Rings (Tempura Battered) — Tempura battered squid rings, 4 pieces.
Side Plate — A mixed plate of prawn twist, takoyaki, spring rolls and chips.
Chips (Mayo/Plum Flavour) — Chips served with mayo or plum flavour.
Takoyaki / Octopus Balls — Japanese-style octopus balls, 4 pieces.
One Scoop of Rice — A scoop of steamed rice.

Steamed Dumplings

Juicy Pork w Cabbage — Steamed pork and cabbage dumplings.
Chicken w Sweet Corn & Peas (Pepper) — Steamed chicken dumplings with sweet corn and peas.
Vegan (Tofu, Cabbage & Chive) — Steamed vegan dumplings with tofu, cabbage and chive.
Pork & Prawn w Garlic Chive — Steamed pork and prawn dumplings with garlic chive.
B.B.Q Pork Bao — Steamed bao bun filled with BBQ pork.

Pan-Fried Dumplings

Juicy Pork w Cabbage — Pan-fried pork and cabbage dumplings.
Chicken w Sweet Corn & Peas (Pepper) — Pan-fried chicken dumplings with sweet corn and peas.
Vegan (Tofu, Cabbage & Chive) — Pan-fried vegan dumplings with tofu, cabbage and chive.
Pork & Prawn w Garlic Chive — Pan-fried pork and prawn dumplings with garlic chive.
Kung Pow Chicken Dumplings — New pan-fried Kung Pow style chicken dumplings.

Mixed Sauce Dumplings

Zhong Dumplings — Steamed dumplings with secret sweet soy sauce, spicy sauce and peanut. Options: pork, chicken, vegan or pork & prawn.
Sour Dumplings — Steamed dumplings in spicy and sour soup. Options: pork, chicken, vegan or pork & prawn.
Bourbon Sauce Dumplings — Steamed dumplings with sesame, bourbon sauce and mayo sauce. Options: pork, chicken, vegan or pork & prawn.
Japanese Takoyaki Sauce Dumplings — Pan-fried dumplings with takoyaki sauce, mayo sauce and bonito. Options: pork, chicken, vegan or pork & prawn.
Dumplings Skewer - Spicy Squid & Pork — Pan-fried spicy squid and pork dumplings with Asian cumin kebab sauce.
Red Wine Sauce Beef Onion Dumplings — Pan-fried beef and onion dumplings with parmesan cheese and red wine sauce (seasonal limited edition).
Classic Beef Onion Dumplings — Pan-fried beef and onion dumplings with classic western sauce, bourbon sauce and mayo sauce.

Frequently asked questions

What dumplings are on the menu?: Pan-fried, steamed and mixed-sauce dumplings with pork, chicken, vegan and pork & prawn fillings.
Are vegan options available?: Yes, including vegan tofu, cabbage and chive dumplings and crispy vegan spring rolls.
Is there a wonton option?: Yes, pork and prawn wonton served in soup or dry with sauce.
What are the Nelson location's opening hours?: Tuesday to Saturday, lunch 11:30am-2:30pm and dinner 5pm-8:30pm.
Is alcohol available?: Yes, tap beer, bottled beer, wine, champagne and BYO.
Are there non-alcoholic drink options?: Yes, soft drinks, tea, and a 0.0% alcohol beer option.
How many dumplings has Jay's Dumpling Cafe served?: Over 1 million dumplings devoured since opening on 8 October 2020.

Tips

{"body":"Served with secret sweet soy sauce, spicy sauce and peanut.","title":"Try the Zhong Dumplings"}
{"body":"A limited-edition item, while available.","title":"Ask about the seasonal Red Wine Sauce Beef Onion Dumplings"}
{"body":"On-license, with BYO also available.","title":"BYO wine is welcome"}
{"body":"Dedicated vegan dumplings and spring rolls on the menu.","title":"Vegan diners are well catered for"}

Good to know

{"dietary":"Vegan dumplings and vegan spring rolls are available; dumplings are cooked in canola oil with no MSG."}